Aldi are selling a sat nav system on 17th November, see http://uk.aldi.com/newsletters/1792/index.html

Anyone know whether it will accept full post codes? If so it seems quite inexpensive.

argos are selling one now for

Or take a look in the 'For Sale' section for a proper satnav

That Medion one is a nice bit of kit, my dad has one.

Alternatively the ICN 520 is on special at Dixons for

Crafty discount available. If you are not offered (and it don't happen much ) extended warrenty say you'll buy it and ask what further discount they can do. When the policy comes through cancel it and everyone wins. You've got more off the item, salesman earns his commission

Sat Nav is a real minefield at the moment. It is flavour of the month and everybody wants the boy's toys for Xmas. Lots of makers have rushhed in with poor software. Many systems are not very flexible - for example with one you can't leave it on and show you on the map where you are - it only works if you plot a route. Many also can't make use of the free camera databases you can get

I would recomend not buying sat nav on impulse. Take some time to do a bit of research - best place to start is the forums at www.pocketgpsworld.com. That is also where you can download all of the latest camera positions, warning voices etc. Post a question telling them what you want from a sat nav (do you want to use it outside th car, do you want it to tie in with your car audio, do you want to combine it with a mobile phone, or PDA, or both etc etc) and ask what would be the best. You will gets lots of replies.

Sat Nav is a real minefield at the moment. .........

Peter

Thanks very much, that's really useful advice. I will do as you suggest.

My missus bought an Aldi one last year.

OK piece of kit but it came with Navigon 4 so I assume it now comes with Navigon 5.

Personally I reckon Navigon is not a patch on TomTom, especially the latest 5 version. I find it difficult to use and slow to operate so now have loaded TomTom onto the better halfs machine.

One good thing is that provided you have a "on all the time" fag lighter socket the GPS will stay on so you dont have to wait for it fire up.

I agree with peterc10, do some research before you buy.

Whate have you got then.

I am looking at the navman 550 or Tom Tom300. I like the idea of the find closest fule / parking that is available with that system.

I dont know if you can go into a menu on the tomtom and ask it to direct you to the closest Fuel or Car Park.

Any thoughts.

lee

Sat Nav is a real minefield at the moment. It is flavour of the month and everybody wants the boy's toys for Xmas. Lots of makers have rushhed in with poor software. Many systems are not very flexible - for example with one you can't leave it on and show you on the map where you are - it only works if you plot a route. Many also can't make use of the free camera databases you can get

I would recomend not buying sat nav on impulse. Take some time to do a bit of research - best place to start is the forums at www.pocketgpsworld.com. That is also where you can download all of the latest camera positions' date=' warning voices etc. Post a question telling them what you want from a sat nav (do you want to use it outside th car, do you want it to tie in with your car audio, do you want to combine it with a mobile phone, or PDA, or both etc etc) and ask what would be the best. You will gets lots of replies.[/quote']

Can you buy one of these cheaper Sat Nav units and replace the software with Tom Tom?

Can you buy one of these cheaper Sat Nav units and replace the software with Tom Tom?

Yep. I have done

I'm going for this, excellent reviews, good price and spec:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=82044&_LOC=UK

You can always install TomTom on it if you don't like the navigation software that's already installed.

I've just ordered a HP rz1710 Navigator, I chose it mainly because of PDA functionality and a nice integrated cradle...

However, it uses Viamichellin software (I like the online routeplanner), but I think the kit is quite new as I am yet to find any reviews...

I am not going down the PDA route so I am looking at the TOMTOM 500 OR Road Angel Navigator.

Bear in mind that you cant always get a signal with an integrated aerial inside the car.

I used my Axim with a compact flash GPS OK here at home but in a rented Peugeot 307 on holiday in kept dropping the signal. Fortunately the CF card came with a magnetic plug in aerial which works a treat. Seems some cars have a metallic reflective coating on the windscreen that stuffs up the GPS signal.

My advice is try first or make sure you get a plug in aerial.

For lee c

Yes you can with TomTom, allsorts of points of interest now come with TT5 and you can add others from the web.